Bakerloo Line extension

Caroline Pidgeon: Residents in New Cross and Lewisham remain concerned that the proposed extension of the Bakerloo Line could be placed at risk by planning applications including the application around the Sainsburys in New Cross. What assurances can be given that every step is being taken to safeguard the proposed route?

The Mayor: As set out in the Bakerloo line extension public consultation that closed on 22 December, the land occupied by Sainsbury’s at New Cross Gate is a key site for the scheme, both as the location of a new station and Transport for London’s (TfL’s) proposed main worksite. Any major development on the Sainsbury’s site would likely prevent the use of it for both these requirements and could jeopardise the delivery of the scheme.
TfL is well aware of this and is working with the GLA and the London boroughs of Lewisham and Southwark to safeguard the scheme through planning policy, namely the London Plan, the future updated Lewisham and Southwark Local Plans, the Old Kent Road Area Action Plan and the New Cross Gate supplementary planning document.
TfL and my Deputy Mayor for Transport are also engaging with the Department for Transport to establish Statutory Safeguarding Direction(s) for the extension, including the site at New Cross Gate. Such a Direction is designed to protect the route from conflicting development, and would require the planning authorities to consult TfL on planning applications within the safeguarded land.

traffic calming near schools

Onkar Sahota: Of the schools in London that fail to meet air quality standards, how many have had traffic calming methods installed since 2016?

The Mayor: Transport for London (TfL) has adopted my Healthy Streets Approach to improve air quality, reduce congestion and help make London's diverse communities greener, healthier and more attractive places to live, work, play and do business. It is investing record amounts in walking and cycling, supporting efficient and healthy ways to get around the city. Given the range of parties involved and different funding sources, TfL does not hold information in this way, nor would any information it could identify be comprehensive.
The introduction of lower speed limits has sometimes raised concerns about air quality. However, Imperial College London’s evaluation of the impact of the introduction of 20mph speed limits on behalf of the City of London suggested the limits had no net negative impact on exhaust emissions. Further evidence of the impact of vehicle speed on emissions and health is set out in TfL’s Speed, emissions and health evidence summary http://content.tfl.gov.uk/speed-emissions-and-health.pdf.

Non-ACM related suspension of stay put (2)

Andrew Dismore: What steps are the LFB and GLA taking to support building owners in remedying the non-ACM related reasons for stay put suspension, given the absence of national funding for this?

The Mayor: London Fire Brigade (LFB) routinely providesadvice, support and guidance to responsible persons (RP) for premises on a range of issues, responding to general enquiries and post-audit queries to support remediation works. Issues relating to general fire precautions in a building, such as compartmentation, fire doors and risk assessments, are the RP’s responsibilities under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety)Order 2005, so any work required to remedy issues in these areas should be funded by RPs themselves.My officers at both the GLA and the LFB have consistently lobbied for timely and decisive action from Government to support building owners to rectifynon-ACM cladding issues. LFB officers are working closely with building owners and the government’s Building Safety Programme to provide guidance and support and to shape the future framework for building safety.

Low Emission buses

Leonie Cooper: Under your target for all buses to be zero emission or hybrid by 2030, what proportion do you expect to be hybrid and what proportion do you expect to be zero emission?

The Mayor: My transport strategy sets out an ambitious target to electrify the bus fleet by 2037 at the latest, including an indicative timeline to achieve this.
It is not yet known what the split of zero-emission and hybrid buses will be in 2030. This depends on how vehicles get replaced when their routes come up for tender and how the operating range of vehicles and power infrastructure improves in the intervening period.

Fire safety qualification and training contract award (2)

Andrew Dismore: In relation to DMFD25 on the award of a fire safety training contract, was an in-house option considered before the tendering of this contract?

The Mayor: London Fire Brigade does not have awarding body status and was, therefore, unable to provide an accredited course framework to deliver training that leads to qualifications.

Fire safety qualification and training contract award (1)

Andrew Dismore: In relation to DMFD25 on the award of a fire safety training contract, what is the reason for this training not being provided through the overarching Babcock contract?

The Mayor: The London Fire Brigade’s Corporate Management Team decided to remove the fire safety qualifications from the Babcock contract because the sub-contract between Babcock and a third-party supplier failed when the supplier could no longer provide the service. Interim arrangements were made with Fire Service College to honour the training commitment and following a tender process, Exact Training have been providing the training, with an indicative saving of £40 per delegate per qualification.

Vehicle Scrappage Schemes

Florence Eshalomi: Please provide details of all vehicle scrappage schemes you support, what their budgets are, how much of the budget has been spent to date and how many vehicles have been scrapped as a result?

The Mayor: To help micro-businesses, sole traders and charities prepare and adapt to the ULEZ, I launched my £23 million van scrappage scheme on 22 February 2019. As at 7 January 2020, 2,672 applications have been received, a total of £2.3 million has been spent and 642 associated vehicles have been scrapped. TfL are currently reviewing the eligibility criteria for the scheme to ensure it is effective as possible.
To help low-income and disabled Londoners prepare and adapt to the ULEZ, I launched my £25 million car and motorcycle scrappage fund on 23 October 2019. As at 7 January 2020, 1,514 applications have been received, a total of £947,000 in scrappage payments has been made and 476 associated vehicles have been scrapped.
TfL’s £42 million taxi delicensing scheme is helping drivers to remove polluting Euro 3, 4 and 5 taxis from London’s taxi fleet much earlier than planned. As at 7 January 2020, a total of £19.3 million in delicensing grant payments has been made and 2,054 associated vehicles have been delicensed.

Piccadilly Line Suspension

Keith Prince: Is it acceptable that on Friday 6 December 2019 the Piccadilly Line was partly suspended during the busiest parts of the day due to "expected high leaf fall"?

The Mayor: Periods of high leaf fall make the tracks slippery, and increase the risk of damage to train wheels, particularly on the Piccadilly line fleet, which is older than the trains on some other lines. This is why – on rare occasions – a partial suspension of the Piccadilly line may be necessary. On 5 December Transport for London (TfL) notified passengers of their plan to suspend the Piccadilly line between Rayners Lane and Uxbridge on the following day, but following a change in the forecast, this was no longer required. TfL recognises that this would have been frustrating for its passengers.
TfL has put in place a comprehensive plan to ensure that the impact of leaf fall is minimised as far as possible. This includes operating special timetables on impacted lines, collecting leaves nearby the railway around the clock, and running five rail adhesion trains across the network. These trains run in areas where the rails become particularly slippery, and operate every day throughout autumn. TfL communicated with customers and stakeholders in advance, to ensure they were aware of these measures.

London Bridge and Borough Market terror attack recommendations (1)

Andrew Dismore: What consideration have you given to MC18 in the Chief Coroner’s Prevention of Future Deaths report following the London Bridge and Borough Market attack, that a number of LAS and LFB staff should be present in the MPS control room at all times?

The Mayor: Section MC18 in the Action to Prevent Future Deaths Report is addressed to MPS and LAS. However, London Fire Brigade (LFB) has been fully engaged in considering the recommendation and working towards a London Emergency Services Coordinating Centre (LESCC). Planning and exercises have been undertaken, and a multi-agency trial is proposed for February 2020 that will see MPS, LAS and LFB control staff physically co-located in the MPS Control.

London Bridge and Borough Market terror attack recommendations (2)

Andrew Dismore: What consideration have you given to MC1, 13, 15, 16 and 17 in the Chief Coroner’s Prevention of Future Deaths report following the London Bridge and Borough Market attack, all of which have a bearing on LFB?

The Mayor: Each matter of concern (MC) is addressed to other parties including the Home Office, the National Counter Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO), London Ambulance Service, MPS and City of London Police. London Fire Brigade (LFB) officers are fully engaged with those partners on the matters of concern and represented on the relevant working groups, where appropriate. LFB officers will write to you separately with full details.

Fire boat replacement costs

Andrew Dismore: In relation to DMFD27 on the budget for new fire boats, why is the new maximum budget of £5,908,000 more than double the previous cost allocated of £2,500,000?

The Mayor: The original budget was set in relation to an ‘off the shelf’ boat based on the original 20-year-old specification of London Fire Brigade’s (LFB) existing boats and not on a detailed specification to meet the needs of LFB, as that specification was unknown at the time. The new maximum budget was submitted in response to the tender bids received. However, the actual cost of the winning bid is £3,814,024, so the capital strategy budget has been amended down to this figure and reported accordingly.